Basic HTML Version
A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
5
October 23, 2014
P
LYMOUTH
Sister’s boyfriend charged in stabbing of 12-year-old
City may seek millage to fund additional police officers
A 23-year-old Detroit man has
been charged in the stabbing of a
12-year-old Plymouth Township
boy in the early hours of Friday,
Oct. 17.
Michael Angelo Rivera of
Detroit was charged with four
counts of Conspiracy to Commit
Murder, one count of Attempted
Murder and one count of
Felonious Assault in the incident
on the boy. The charges of con-
spiracy and attempted murder
each carry a possible life impris-
onment sentence upon convic-
tion.
According to police reports,
officers were called to a home in
the west end of the township at
about 2 a.m. last Friday. The
responding officers found the 12-
year-old with a stab wound to his
neck. He was transported by
HuronValley Ambulance person-
nel to Mott Children's Hospital in
Ann Arbor where he underwent
surgery to repair the injuries to
his neck and throat. Police said
he is expected to make a full
recovery.
Plymouth Township investiga-
tors along with officers from the
Western Wayne Criminal
Response Team were able to
determine that the suspects in
the assault on the boy were his
sister and her boyfriend, identi-
fied by police as Rivera. Neither
was at the scenewhen police and
emergency vehicles arrived at
the home. Both were arrested in
Detroit by officers investigating
the attack.
Police declined to provide the
girl's name, age or degree of
involvement in the attack. “The
case is still being investigated.
Due to an incident involving a
juvenile suspect, we cannot com-
ment further until charges, if any,
are filed,” said Plymouth
Township Police Lt. Bob Antal in
a prepared statement.
Rivira was arraigned in 34th
District Court on Sunday. He
entered a not guilty plea and the
presiding judge set his bond at $1
million, cash. His next scheduled
court appearance will be at the
35thDistrict Court on Friday, Oct.
31.
The
Wayne
County
Prosecutors office is currently
reviewing charges for the second
suspect.
Plymouth City Commissioners
have tentatively agreed to place a
request for a 1.5mill tax on aMay
ballot to fund the addition of two
police officers to the city force.
Officials said there would be
public meetings scheduled for
comments prior to the tax
request and implementation of
the newplan.
While the commissioners did
not take an official vote during a
study session last week, agree-
ment appeared to be unanimous
for a two-step plan to increase
the number of officers in the city
to 17, one to be hired in January
and another next year if voters
approve the millage request.
Increasing the police staff was
adopted as a goal by the commis-
sion earlier this year and Police
Chief Al Cox presented a report
to the officials last month detail-
ing the need for at least one addi-
tional officer. According to Cox,
the expense of adding an officer
would be about $76,000 the first
year and increase to nearly
$89,000 the third year, including
salary, benefits, training and
equipment.
A new officer would allow the
reassignment of at least one
patrolman to assume responsibil-
ity for issues related to establish-
ments in the downtown area
where alcohol is sold. Currently,
nearly all officers handle some of
the issues related to bar checks,
drunk drivers, licensing and
noise and nuisance complaints.
A dedicated officer would allow
more time for the remaining
patrolmen to be in neighbor-
hoods, Cox said at his presenta-
tion recently. Currently, there are
24 establishments that sell alco-
hol by the glass in the city and 14
of those are in the downtown
area.
The expense of the first new
officer will be paid from the city
general fund and with funding
from
the
Downtown
Development Authority (DDA),
according to the discussion at the
study session. The new officer
hired in January will not be
affected by the outcome of the
millage election, but the police
department will have to provide
commensurate
downtown
patrols to justify the use of DDA
funds.
If approved by voters, a 1.5
mill taxwould cost property own-
ers $1.50 for every $1,000 of tax-
able value for 10 years. The
request would generate funding
to be used for both police and
fire and emergencymedical serv-
ices. The proposal would gener-
ate about $637,000 in tax revenue
annually, according to city offi-
cials. Currently, emergency med-
ical service is provided by Huron
Valley Ambulance and by on-call
part-time firefighters from the
City ofNorthville.
Michael Angelo Rivera
Pumpkin
Palooza
The 4th Annual Pumpkin
Palooza drew a large crowd
of princesses, superheroes
and even some ghosts to
downtown Plymouth last
Sunday. The event included
costume contests, games,
entertainment and lots of
candy.